Comet

by Andie J Fessey

  It ceased working, the day her Mother was visited by the man from the government, announcing her Father’s passing.

  “It’s a music box, Father brought it back from one of his voyages for my Mother, its broken.”

  “That is indeed a shame Iris, it certainly is exquisite,” Tobias replied, “but also certainly, not the most exquisite item in this room.”

  Feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable, Iris placed her cup on the tray.

  “Should we be making our way?” She asked, secretly hoping he may have changed his mind, her doubts about this evening spinning tendril-like through her mind.

  Standing up, Tobias placed his own cup on the tray, close enough to Iris, for her to smell his expensive cologne.

  “Why yes, my dear, I do believe we should make haste, before we miss the rest of the evening.”

  The journey to the Adelphi did not take them long.

  The early evening traffic being light enough, for Tobias to drive the car at speed, in an attempt to impress her.

  Iris stared impassively from the passenger window, watching people make their way along the roads they drove upon.

  Eventually, they arrived at their destination.

  Tobias brought the car to a stop under the canopy leading to the entrance, passing his keys to the valet who stood, hand outstretched, in starched jacket and trousers.

  Tobias held his arm out, Iris taking a moment to realise he wished her to link her arm through his.

  She did so, though feeling uncomfortable, as she felt his arm tighten around hers.

  The inside of the Adelphi was filled with the smoke of cigarettes, pipes and in some cases cigars.

  The odours caused her to feel nauseous.

  “Are you feeling unwell?” Tobias asked, as a concierge approached them.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she replied, “I’m just a bit, nervous I suppose.”

  Within herself she squirmed, as the words were spoken.

  “Why nervous?” Tobias asked.

  “Can I help you sir?” The concierge asked.

  “Pardon? Oh, yes. There is a table reserved for myself and my companion,” Tobias replied.

  Tobias furnished the concierge with the booking details and they found themselves being led into the busy restaurant.

  The scores of conversations taking place around the spacious room, sounded as one as they took their places at one of the many tables.

  Their meal was an extravagant one, but Iris found herself merely picking lightly, at the dish of expensive fish in front of her.

  It tasted so much better wrapped in paper.

  “Are you alright?” Tobias asked, noticing she hardly touched a morsel.

  “You haven’t touched almost anything,” he said, “if it is not to your taste, or there is anything wrong with it, I’ll demand they bring something else.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” she replied, “my appetite’s just been off lately, I’m sorry.”

  “There is no need to apologise Iris dear,” he said, “here, have another glass of wine.”

  She began to protest, placing her hand over the glass.

  She was not one for drinking and the glass she already consumed, went straight to her head.

  He took the glass from under her hand, filling it to the brim with wine.

  She glanced at his hand whilst he did, noticing something for the first time.

  “You’re really tanned,” she said, “if you don’t mind me asking, is that your natural colour?”

  “Heavens no,” he said smiling, “I’ve recently returned from the south of France. A bit of a cultural exchange visit on behalf of my department as it were.”

  “Oh,” she uttered.

  “And if you do not mind me asking, Iris my dear,” he said, “why do you ask?”

  “It’s just,” she said, staring into his eyes, then pointing at his finger, “you have a white band of skin on your finger.”

  “Ahh,” he sighed, moving his hand away from the glass.

  “Isn’t that where a wedding ring would be?” She asked, without removing her gaze.

  “It’s, it’s err, well, it’s,” he muttered.

  “Are you married?” She asked.

  His eyes darted around the tables nearby, hoping nobody heard her.

  “Well, are you?” She repeated.

  “Ohh, Iris my dear,” he responded with a smile, “whether I am married or not is not the point, and does it really matter?”

  “What do you mean ‘does it really matter’?” She exclaimed, her voice raising slightly.

  “Iris dear, please keep your voice down, people are beginning to stare,” he requested.

  “I don’t care if they stare,” she responded, “what do you mean ‘does it really matter’? Please answer my question.”

  He stared at her, before smiling and taking a sip of his wine.

  She noticed the white band again, as his hand brought the glass to his lips.

  “Yes,” he said, placing the glass on the table, “yes, I am. But I do not believe it to be a matter to concern you.”

  “What?” Iris asked, incredulously.

  “Oh, come Iris,” he said, placing his hand across the table and touching hers.

  She brought her own hand immediately away, placing it on her lap.

  “I’ve brought you out for a meal,” he continued, “then hopefully we can partake of a few dances and a few more drinks, then.”

  He left the sentence unfinished.

  “Then,” she said, “then what?”

  “Oh, Iris my dear, we are both adults. Yes, I’m married, but I work away a lot of the time and travel extensively.”

  She stared at him, not believing his words.

  “So,” he continued, “of course I get lonely. I do enjoy the company of the fairer sex, so what harm is there in treating a local delight to a nice meal, in a nice hotel.”

  “A local delight?” She asked.

  He shuddered inwardly, realising the words uttered from his mouth.

  I really should not have partaken of so many glasses of this wine.

  “Iris, I did not mean to insinuate,” he began, but became interrupted, by Iris getting to her feet.

  “I am not a local delight. How dare you!” She exclaimed, loud enough for the people at the nearby tables, to cease in their conversations and look their way.

  “Iris please,” he pleaded, “be quiet, you are making a spectacle.”

  “I don’t care what I’m making,” she replied loudly, “but I’m certainly not making anything with you!”

  “Iris!” He protested.

  But she already turned around and rushed passed the tables to the exit.

  The laughter of the people nearby, invaded her ears and resounding throughout her mind.

  Back at the table, Tobias looked around at the people nearby staring in his direction.

  He merely smiled at them, raising his glass in their direction.

  “Women eh?” He said, before returning to his dinner, the wine in his body, already affecting his rationality.

  Iris stepped outside, the rain was heavier now and pounded on the pavement beyond the canvas canopy she sheltered under.

  “Miss,” a voice said from nearby.

  She turned, to find herself facing the valet she met earlier in the evening.

  “Are you alright Miss?” He asked.

  “Yes,” she managed to reply, “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “Do you wish me to hail you a cab Miss?” He asked.

  Though it was an expense she could ill afford, she turned to stare at the hotel entrance, dreading seeing Tobias emerge.

  “Yes,” she replied, “yes please, thank you.”

  “Not a problem Miss.”

  Within minutes, she found herself in the back of a cab, heading northwards to Seaforth.

  She paid no notice to anything outside of the windows, her eyes clenched tightly shut, willing herself not to cry.

  The cab pulled up outside of
number Twelve Harrowby Street.

  After paying the driver, she stepped into the pouring rain.

  She stood, shaking, not wanting to enter her home until she had composed herself.

  “Iris?” A voice said, from behind her.

  She turned to see Sheila crossing the road from her house.

  “Are you alright Pet?” Sheila asked.

  Iris stared at her, the tears pouring forth from her eyes, joining the beads of rain water on her face.

  Her body shook, until she was unable to hold it within any longer.

  “Oh, Iris,” Sheila exclaimed, “come here love.”

  She held her, standing under the cold embrace of the evening rain.

  Chapter Thirty

  Leaning against the allotment fence, the children peered in, watching Comet walking around the perimeter, chewing on any grass within his reach.

  Opening the gate and making their way inside of the allotment, they ensured the gate remained secured behind them.

  Frank stared at the way Comet walked, a curious expression upon his face.

  “Why’s he walking like that?” He asked.

  Robert shook his head, noticing Comet was not walking in the same sure manner as yesterday.

  “Here Comet,” he said, walking across the centre of the allotment to Comet, leaning to munch on a piece of grass, “I’ve an apple for you.”

  Turning his head at the sound of Roberts voice, Comet arched his head forward, taking the apple from his outstretched hand.

  He chewed upon it, whilst Robert stroked his hand along his large neck.

  “He seems to be limping,” Jimmy said.

  “He’s not limping,” Frank said, “it looks like he’s dragging his leg or something.”

  “It’s his shoe,” Jimmy said, “it’s hanging off his foot.”

  “I think, you mean his hoof, don’t you?”

  “Foot or Hoof, what’s it matter? It’s hanging off.”

  The iron shoe on Comets hoof, suffered substantial damage, by being repeatedly stamped upon the ground whilst being taken by O’Leary and also whilst trying to fend off the dogs at his yard.

  Now, it hung from his hoof.

  “What are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know,” Robert said, “but we have to do something, in case he hurts himself.”

  “Can we take it off?”

  “I wouldn’t know how,” Robert replied, “and if we don’t end up hurting ourselves, we may hurt Comet.”

  “I think, it’d take more than one of Jerry’s v-rockets to hurt Comet,” Jimmy said, alongside Robert, “he’s built like a tank.”

  “I don’t think that matters Jimmy,” Robert said, “it’s hanging off and I know the skin underneath, is softer than we think.”

  “The frog,” Maisie said.

  “Where?” Wally asked.

  “No, I didn’t mean a real frog, I mean it’s what the bottom part of his hoof is called.”

  “Wow, you really read that book from the library quickly, didn’t you?” Jimmy asked.

  “Stop taking the micky Jimmy,” Maisie said, feeling hurt.

  “I…I wasn’t Maisie honest I wasn’t,” Jimmy said, looking at her, before staring at the ground between his feet, “I’m impressed, I wish I could remember stuff that fast.

  Gazing at him, to see if he was being serious, Maisie saw by the way he held his head low, he was.

  She smiled, before looking up at Robert.

  “I’m not sure it will hurt him Robert, but we have to do something.”

  “I not want Comet hurt,” Daniel said.

  “We’ll not let him get hurt Danny,” Robert said, “we’ll think of something.”

  They all stood looking at Comet, trying to walk around the allotment, constantly turning his huge head to look at the thing upon his hoof, troubling him.

  It took a few moments, before Jimmy’s face lit up with a broad smile.

  “I have an answer,” he said.

  The other children turned, looking at him.

  “You do?” Barbara asked.

  “Yes, I do,” he replied.

  “Well,” Samuel said, “what is it soft lad, as we need to do something quick?”

  “Iris,” Jimmysaid, staring into Roberts eyes.

  “Iris?” Robert asked.

  “Yes, your Iris.”

  “What about her?”

  “Didn’t she go out with that blacksmith bloke, the other night?” Jimmy asked.

  Robert recalled how excited his sister was, after she visited the Pictures with David.

  He also remembered how sullen and withdrawn she was since, in addition to the way she snapped at them in the kitchen, completely out of character.

  He also vividly recalled how upset was, when she returned from her evening with Tobias.

  He knew she spoke to Wally’s mum over it, seeing them talking through the gap in the curtains of the bedroom he shared with the twins.

  Hearing her crying herself to sleep, he felt impotent not knowing what to say to her, knowing she would have only replied, she was alright and he should go back to bed.

  “Maybe, now’s not the best time, to get our Iris involved,” he said, turning his gaze to Comet.

  Feeling a tug on his sleeve, he looked down to find Daniel stood there, gently pulling upon it.

  “What is it?” Robert asked, quietly.

  “We need help for Comet Rob, please,” Daniel said, a pleading look dominating his young features.

  “I know Danny, but it’d mean telling our Iris about him,” he replied.

  “If it helps him, does it matter?” Wally asked.

  Looking at him, Jimmy hoped his friend was not too upset, about discovering the object of his distant affections courted with not one, but two different men recently.

  “I agree,” Barbara said, “Comets welfare, has to come first.”

  Robert thought for several moments.

  Iris was not working today and he knew she would be busy doing housework, whilst their Mother was at work.

  “Alright,” he said, “but you lot stay here. Danny, you’re coming with me.”

  “But it’s a long walk back to our house Rob,” Daniel said, staring at his brother pleadingly and wanting to remain near Comet.

  “It’s not far and don’t worry, I’ll give you a shoulder ride.”

  Wally looked deflated.

  “Rob, he can stay here with us. We promise nothing will happen to him,” he said, the others nodding their heads in agreement.

  “It’s not about anything happening to our Dan,” he assured them, realising Wally must be insinuating about the incident at Potters Barn.

  The other children stared at him.

  “It’s in case anything happens to me,” he said, “I’m taking our Danny with me, in case our Iris throws a wobbler at me, asking her about that Welsh bloke!”

  ****

  “You did what?!!”

  Standing in the kitchen, a tea cloth in her hands, Iris was shocked after Robert related the tale of Comet, whilst standing next to the kitchen table, his head held low.

  “Do you know what you’ve done?” She asked.

  “Rob saved him!” Daniel exclaimed, looking at her pleadingly.

  “But,” she cried, “he’s broken the law!”

  “What law our Iris?” Robert questioned loudly.

  “A law, saying it’s alright to be cruel to animals? To be okay to scare them, to tie them up in front of two evil barking dogs?”

  “But, you broke in Rob,” She said, “Mother will go in hysterics when she finds out!”

  “Don’t tell her please Iris,” Daniel begged, “please don’t tell her.”

  “Daniel, I can’t not tell her,” she replied.

  “But Iris,” Robert pleaded, “please help him first.”

  He stared deeply into her eyes.

  “Let Mother and the police or whoever, deal with me afterwards.”

  Iris stared at her brothers in turn.
<
br />   Something about the way they pleaded, caused her to feel remorseful, at the way she spoke to them.

  “But,” she said, “what am I expected to do Robert? What do I know about horses? You probably know more about horses than I do!”

  Robert looked at her sheepishly, dreading uttering the words within his mind.

  “But,” he said, “you know somebody, who knows about horses.”

  The look she gave him, caused him to lower his head.

  “What?” She asked.

  “The Cowboys and Indians man!” Daniel exclaimed.

  Iris and Robert looked to him simultaneously.

  “What?” Robert asked.

  “When we went to the pub place,” Daniel explained, “your friend Iris. He talked about cowboys and Indians.”

  Continuing to stare at him, she understood fully who he meant.

  “But, I, he, I mean,” Iris uttered.

  “Iris,” Robert said, standing next to her, placing his hand on her arm, “if you don’t want to, we understand. We just thought you could help Comet. I’m sorry.”

  “But Robert,” she replied in exasperation, “he doesn’t want to know me. He hasn’t been in touch.”

  “There must be a reason for that Iris,” he said, “I know I’m not supposed to be old enough to understand, but he seemed really nice and maybe you’ll feel better if he tells you why?”

  Iris looked at him, his maturity touching her deeply.

  “But, how do I get in touch with him?” She asked.

  “There’s a telephone box near the Overhead Station,” Robert replied, “we can call the exchange from there and get the number to the blacksmiths.”

  Looking at him, then to Daniel, she nodded.

  They rushed to the Overhead railway less than a mile away, waiting outside the telephone box whilst a young man in army uniform, spoke animatedly into the receiver.

  Finally, he completed his call.

  Iris picked up the receiver and spoke to the telephone exchange operator, explaining whose telephone she wished to be connected to. It took a while for the operator to figure the number Iris wanted, but as there was only one blacksmiths in the area, she ventured she should try there first.

  She felt nervous and apprehensive, waiting for the call to be answered.

  “Hello,” A baritone voice on the other end, eventually said.

  “Oh, err, hello, sorry to disturb you but is that the blacksmiths in Woolton?” She asked.